SENSIBLE UNFINISHED BUSINESS FOR DANIEL PENNY
By Andy Weddington
Tuesday, 10 December 2024
Courage is being scared to death ... and saddling up anyway. - John Wayne
Never have I been in a confined space without easy egress facing threat to my life and the lives of helpless others.
But, if so, what would I do?
A Marine trained in basic close combat, I like to believe exactly as Daniel Penny who found himself in that undesirable moment in a New York City subway car.
Disorderly Jordan Neely harassed passengers and threatened to kill.
So Daniel Penny acted - a U. S. Marine trained in close combat he employed an adjustable restraining hold (based on subject's resistance) to control Mr. Neely.
Regrettably, for sundry possibilities, the engagement did not end well for Jordan Neely.
I'll not bother with the charges against Daniel Penny.
Yesterday, a jury unanimously found Mr. Penny not guilty.
Justice.
Though some not in the subway car rather outraged and emotional to contrary.
Be that as it may, their right.
Two posts yesterday on X by golfer Phil Mickelson merit attention:
1. "Random thoughts
Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth are great in the booth.
Day of the Jackal is an incredible show.
If a deranged individual threatens to kill you let's hope there's a Daniel Penny around."
2. "Finally a little common sense. There never should have been a trial. He should be commended for selfless actions to protect the other passengers and those who brought charges should be out of a job."
And a post on X by Vice-President elect J. D. Vance (U. S. Marine):
"I have not said much about this case out of fear of (negatively) influencing the jury.
But thank God justice was done in this case. It was a scandal Penny was ever prosecuted in the first place."
That Mr. Neely's life was ended to save others was not in the heart nor mind of Daniel Penny, nor his intent, decided the jury.
During interviews Mr. Penny cited Marine Corps training and deference to Core Values (Honor. Courage. Commitment.) seared into his psyche for moving him to conquer his own fear and act.
Strangely, there is no comment on X by Commandant of the @USMC, at this writing.
General Eric Smith, sir, why silence?
There's unfinished business.
Phil Mickelson suggests Daniel Penny should be commended.
Yes.
Sensible unfinished business for Daniel Perry?
Daniel Penny should be decorated, soonest (like before Christmas).
There's rich history of Marines in a duty status being recognized for such life-saving bravery - awarded the Navy Marine Corps medal.
Though Mr. Penny was not in an official duty status he was in a battle of sorts and considering the extraordinary circumstances and keeping faith with 'Once a Marine, always a Marine,' why not?
Surely more than a bit scared, Daniel Penny saddled up anyway.
Top leadership courage, to likewise do the right thing, would be refreshing. Encouraging, too.
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1 comment:
I concur wholeheartedly. I, too, have been in a position where I had to act in a manner similar to Daniel Penny and step between the deranged mind of mental illness and/or drug abuse and innocent bystanders.
I relied on the training and mental strength of the core values I learned in the Corps to stand firmly in place in the defense of others. In most of those cases, I had an advantage that Daniel Penny did not - I was armed with various weapons and a badge. Along with those came a duty to defend and not retreat.
Nevertheless, it is a scary place to be and not one you want to find yourself standing. I also usually could hear the wail of sirens telling me my backup was on the way. I'm certain in the depths of the subway, sirens are not utilized.
I also know another thing that never went through Daniel Penny's mind that day but has been at the forefront of nearly everyone's mind since the story broke, whether it's the press, the prosecutor, the public, the attorneys or those now looking for a payout.
Daniel Penny never saw color. He never saw the race of Jordan Neely. You ask how I know. Because Daniel Penny is a Marine. And we are trained to only see green.
Look at the scenes of the subway car that day. There are all races there. Daniel Penny is the minority - the rare white man. He was assisted in restraining Mr. Neely by black men. But to him, they were simply men.
And the women and children he was protecting were of various races as well. The melting pot we call America. But to him, they were innocents. People he needed to protect from the danger Jordan Neely threatened. And their race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, or any other distinguishing characteristic didn't matter. They needed to be protected and he was trained to protect them. He reacted and performed as trained.
I could break down the alleged "chokehold" he used and point out that, with all of my training and experience, this was not a choke hole and then get into the details of the autopsy, but the fact is Daniel Penny was found not guilty.
The real problem is DA Alvin Bragg and the leaders of Black Lives Matter who were not present for the incident, were not threatened, and did not have to depend on Daniel Penny to save their lives. If that were the case, maybe they wouldn't be so quick to throw race into the equation. And the Neely family who ignored Justin because of his drug use and mental illness were also not present, but now see the spotlight and dollar signs. Our legal system should be quick and just and shut all of these vultures down.
The recommendation of the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal is appropriate as it is “awarded to members of the Navy and Marine Corps, including members of Reserve components on active or inactive duty, . . . . The award shall be given for meritorious service or achievement in a combat or noncombat situation based on sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature, and shall be of such merit as to warrant more tangible recognition than is possible by a fitness report or evaluation sheet, but which does not warrant a Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal or higher.”
Daniel Perry was 24 years old at the time of his actions. I do not know when he enlisted in the Marine Corps or when he was discharged. But the standard enlistment includes an inactive reserve period bringing the total enlistment to 6 years. If he enlisted at 18, he likely was still within his inactive reserve period and qualified.
Otherwise, we can rely on the order of Gen. James Amos, Commandant, who stated in 2010, “A Marine is a Marine … there’s no such thing as a former Marine. You’re a Marine, just in a different uniform and you’re in a different phase of your life. But you’ll always be a Marine because you went to Parris Island, San Diego or the hills of Quantico.”
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